James Johnson

Fort Myers, FL- James Joseph Johnson, 90, of the Palms Retirement Community, Fort Myers, Florida, died Friday, September 20, 2013. Joe was born December 27, 1922, in Ennis, WV, the only child of Edna Mae Lucas Johnson and Paschal Marquis Johnson. Soon after his birth, the family relocated to Pembroke, VA, where his mother’s family resided. After graduating as valedictorian of Pembroke High School, he enrolled at Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) in the class of 1944 to study engineering. While serving in the VPI Battery K of the Cadet Corp, his education was interrupted on February 27, 1943 when, along with most of his junior and senior classmates, he enlisted to serve in World War II. Completing Officers Training School, Joe took the opportunity to marry the love of his life, Virginia Mae Tuck, just before being deployed to the Pacific Theater as a Captain in the infantry where the invasion of the Japanese homeland was being staged. Fortunately, the war ended prior to the invasion and Joe returned to his family and completed his education at VPI with Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering. Upon graduation from VPI, Joe entered into what became a forty-year career with Westinghouse Electric Corporation in sales and marketing roles that brought recognition of his achievements, such as inclusion into the Presidents Circle of Excellence on multiple occasions. Joe was very church and community minded. As a member of First Christian Church, he served as Elder, Sunday school teacher, Chairman of the Official Board multiple times, and chaired the Building Committee overseeing the construction of the current First Christian Church of Bluefield. He was a man of great faith, a leader and a motivator. In the community he was President of Fincastle Country Club, Bluefield Sales Executive Club and the University Club. Upon his retirement, Joe and his wife Virginia moved to the Gulf Harbour Yacht and Country Club in Fort Myers, Florida. As a charter member there he enjoyed his favorite pastime of collecting money from his golfing buddies. He was a coin collector, sports fan, and had a great interest in current events, politics, economics and medicine. He enjoyed sharing his thoughts and philosophies on each of these topics with family and friends. Joe had a witty sense of humor and even in his later years possessed a keen vision for the future by embracing new technologies and forward thinking ideas. He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Virginia Tuck Johnson in 1999 and a son-in-law, Otis E. Timberlake in 2011. Survivors include two sons, Marquis (Mark) A. Johnson (Susan) of Bluefield, VA and David J. Johnson (Julie) of Richmond, VA; a daughter, Joyce Timberlake of Ft. Myers, FL; two grandsons, James J.(Jay) Johnson, II (Beth) of Bluefield, VA and Jeffrey M. Johnson (Amy) of Charlotte, NC; two granddaughters, Kristen T. Englehart of Ft. Myers, FL and Kathryn (Katy) J. Luke (Connor) of Blacksburg, VA; five great granddaughters, Caroline Johnson and Virginia Johnson, Bluefield, VA; Margaret Johnson and Elizabeth James Johnson of Charlotte, NC, Makayla Luke of Blacksburg, VA and two great grandsons Les Englehart and Nickolas Englehart of Ft. Myers, FL. Funeral services will be Friday, October 11, at 1:00 pm at The First Christian Church, 2200 Bland Road, Bluefield,WV with the Reverend Douglas McDaniel officiating. Friends may visit the family at 12:30 pm, prior to the service. Burial will follow at 3:00 p.m. at Birchlawn Burial Park in Pearisburg, VA. Pallbearers are James Johnson, Jeffrey Johnson, Les Englehart, Nicholas Englehart, Connor Luke, and Derek Lawrence. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Christian Church, 2200 Bland Rd., Bluefield, WV 24701 or The Wade Center, PO Box 777, Bluefield, WV 24701. Those wishing to share memories or condolence messages with the family may do so by visiting www.MercerFuneralHome.com Mercer Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family of Mr. James Joseph (Joe) Johnson.

James Johnson

December 27, 1922 - September 20, 2013